Re August 2001 State of Adventure Gaming

Letter 1

From: Maciej Miasik
To: randy@justadventure.com
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2001 5:41 PM
Subject: The State of Adventure Gaming

Dear Randy,

"From Poland: "What is this Monkey Island? What are computers?""

Hmm, how do we managed to develop that SCHIZM game? Is it supposed to run on a abacus or something? I think that another Polish adventure game is player by turning printed pages ...

Maciek

Maciej Miasik - Game Developer
www.schizm.com, www.reah.com, www.lkavalon.com

Letter 2

From: Charles Barratt
To: randy@justadventure.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2001 2:21 PM
Subject: Gabriel Knight & Final Fantasy movies

Randy,

Why must you always spout off on things you have no clue over? I agree that a Gabriel Knight movie would be wonderful, but studios aren't trying to make wonderful movies, they're trying to sell tickets. And the mainstream audience doesn't give a damn about Gabriel, Grace, or Mosley...they've never even heard of them. They have heard of Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, and Final Fantasy, and it doesn't matter if the movie is good or not...they'll go and see it anyway. By the way, the Final Fantasy movie is nothing at all like the games...they have practically nothing in common. Square just used the recognized title to get people in the seats. So don't go bad-mouthing the Final Fantasy games because you fell asleep during the movie...they are just as creative and engaging as Gabriel Knight games, if a little less intelligent. But something tells me you've never played one.

You are a bitter old man, Randy Sluganski. The site's cool, though.

Charles

P.S. You're pissed off because Funcom didn't mention you in their press release??! Jesus, man.

Letter 3

From: [email address removed]
To: randy@justadventure.com
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2001 10:34 PM
Subject: The State of Adventure Gaming

Dear Mr. Sluganski,

I'm just writing to let you know that I enjoy reading your "The State of Adventure Gaming" articles. Second only to John Saul and Jane Jensen, you are my favorite writer.

UbiSoft has definitely got a love/hate relationship with it's Adventure Gamer audience right now. Their Marketing and Support of their Adventure titles is disappointing, yet they've published 3 of the best games I've played during the last year. I'm currently being thrilled by Dragon Riders.

I try to persuade my coworkers to purchase Adventure Games, but it's an uphill struggle. For example, a friend of mine played and loved GK2. Yet, he didn't buy GK3 when it was released. I will absolutely, positively, never understand people. I told him that "If you like Adventure Games and you don't buy GK3, then you're a schmuck." He actually took my advice and bought it. He was blown away by the story, and he would also love to see another game from Jane Jensen. But that's my only success story.

I don't know how you find the time, but I appreciate your work. I hope you continue to find the energy to entertain us Adventure Gamers. I'd hate to see you retire. If you retire from Just Adventure, it would be the Adventure Gaming equivalent of when Michael Jordan retired from basketball.

Sincerely,

Doug Millsap

Letter 4

From: "slocarl"
To: <randy@justadventure.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2001 9:06 PM
Subject: Your latest " The State of Adventure Gaming"

Hi, Randy, I enjoy your reports on the status of adventure games. One Q...do you know when "The Secret of the Druids" will reach stateside? I am glad to see that adventure gaming is going strong somewhere!

By the way, I am a Monkey Island fanatic...please allow us Monkey Islanders to enjoy the games and ask for more...in this country, as you well know, adventure games are getting scarce...to urge LucasArts NOT to make another adventure game, no matter what the title may be (as long, of course, as it is a well written game), is counter-productive. I certainly agree that other games should be resurrected, especially "The Dig", " Maniac Mansion" and "Sam n' Max"...but let us NOT urge a major adventure game company to cease and desist and rap their proverbial knuckles for producing another game (in this case, Monkey Island )..We need more games...sorry you are getting tired of the Monkey Island series, but I will bet there is some game series out there that YOU cant get enough of...let me and others enjoy as much Monkey as possible...I understand your position, but, the bottom line is LucasArts will respond to a peceived demand...let's not allow said demand to weaken any more..it may very well induce them to look at it from greater global standpoint and feel more strongly that adventure games may, indeed, be a dying breed, at least in the USA. Thanks, keep up the great reviews of the adventure game world. .slocarl@hotmail.com